start the national recovery, let's start that now and immediately. it is important to say where we were ten weeks ago when i took over, and where we are now is an incredible transformation and that is down to the hard work of people across the country. they can see there is a new energy and enthusiasm around the labour party. i am not pretending that process is complete. we are on a journey and what i want to build is not the opposition to the snp, but the alternative the snp. d0 is not the opposition to the snp, but the alternative the snp. do you have any advice _ but the alternative the snp. do you have any advice to _ but the alternative the snp. do you have any advice to keir _ but the alternative the snp. do you have any advice to keir starmer? i what i would say is that there are lessons the uk labour party can learn from the scottish labour party about what happened to us after a big, constitutional, binary choice on the challenges we face. what i am doing and what keir is doing is taking the party on a journey. i want to do it with energy, optimism, honesty and also with humility and authenticity. i think if we do that,

we can persuade people across the party that the labour party is very much on their side. —— people across the country. i think people have seen that in scotland over the last ten weeks. we are not the angry labour party that wants to fight with everybody, we want to pull the country back together and focus on the national recovery. by making an open plea right now, everybody in the party spoke about the national recovery, we are not out of this crisis now. so let's keep working for this country that we love. let's look at the local authorities in england and update our knowledge. we have had more councillors elected. a500 councillors being elected. a500 councillors being elected in the set of elections across england. there we have the scoreboard so far. we have the conservatives, up 95. labour have lost 121 councillors so far. the lib dems up five, the greens up 16. we saw encouraging results for the

greens in cambridge and sheffield. let me bring in caroline lucas of the green party. thanks for waiting patiently. can we talk about sheffield? what led to that? well, i think we already _ sheffield? what led to that? well, i think we already had _ sheffield? what led to that? well, i think we already had very _ sheffield? what led to that? well, i think we already had very strong - think we already had very strong green presence on sheffield city council, and people liked what they were doing. they were absolutely standing up for their principles, for example, over the famous issue of protecting street trees. but they were also prioritising things like affordable housing, better planning rules, and basically what we are seeing around the country, when you have councils that have some greens elected, people like what they see and they elect more. what we have seenin and they elect more. what we have seen in sheffield is gaining five more seats. sheffield will now be no overall control. we look forward to having greater influence on the council. i think what you're seeing around the country as a whole that there is nowhere where greens are not winning seats. we made

breakthroughs in places like stockport, northumberland, where we won two seats from the tories. hastings, derbyshire, the list goes on. it's no longer the case that greens, if it ever was the case, that greens are only winning places like brighton and bristol, we are winning all round the country, because people like the practical vision we are bringing to politics. the way that we listen to local people, take nothing for granted. we make sure we are putting in place bold, ambitious policies for a greener and fairer community. i mentioned greenerand fairercommunity. i mentioned you were up 16 already. i'm wondering, given that we are still at a relatively early stage, 111 councils in england yet to declare, clearly, there is a long way to go. do you expect that number of gains to increase significantly, or what? we of gains to increase significantly, or what? ~ ., of gains to increase significantly, or what? ~ . , . h, of gains to increase significantly, or what? ~ . , . ,., ., or what? we are expecting some more siunificant or what? we are expecting some more significant gains. _ or what? we are expecting some more significant gains, yes. _ or what? we are expecting some more significant gains, yes. you're - significant gains, yes. you're absolutely right. we are also hoping for a strong showing in london, and we know that sian barry, the mayoral

candidate, according to some polls, has been in third place there. increasingly, i think we are being seen as the third party in british politics. we are hoping to make our first breakthrough in wales as well. this feels like there is a green spring happening. there are green shoots all around the country. i think people want to go for a party that has a vision, that has a set of plans about how we would set up stronger, more empowered communities, more communities that are in green spaces, where fairness is absolutely ingrained in all of those policies. that is what the greens are offering. we those policies. that is what the greens are offering.— those policies. that is what the greens are offering. we will see where we are — greens are offering. we will see where we are by _ greens are offering. we will see where we are by the _ greens are offering. we will see where we are by the end - greens are offering. we will see where we are by the end of - greens are offering. we will see where we are by the end of the | where we are by the end of the weekend, some way to go, as we know. thanks forjoining us. an update on the news on the weather now. i'd like to know if the rain is going to continue.

here's a summary of the bbc news. the prime minister has thanked the people of hartlepool for placing their trust in the conservative party, after the tories took the parliamentary seat in what's being described as a shattering result for labour. the new mp isjill mortimer, the first conservative to represent the area since the constituency was created in 197a. i want to thank the people park it will and congratulate gill on a wonderful campaign. she's been a wonderful campaign. she's been a wonderful candidate and fought very hard for every vote, and i think she will be a wonderful mp. for me, what this means is that i think it is a mandate for us to continue to deliver, notjust for the people of hartlepool, notjust for the people

of the north—east, but across the whole of the country. keir of the north-east, but across the whole of the country. keir starmer is facin: a whole of the country. keir starmer is facing a backlash _ whole of the country. keir starmer is facing a backlash in _ whole of the country. keir starmer is facing a backlash in the - whole of the country. keir starmer is facing a backlash in the party . is facing a backlash in the party after that loss of hartlepool. i take full responsibility for the results, and i will take full responsibility for fixing things. we have changed as a party, but we haven't set out a strong enough case to the country. very often, we've been talking to ourselves, instead of to the country. and we've lost the trust of working people, particularly in places like hartlepool. i intend to do whatever is necessary to fix that. results are coming in for the scottish parliamentary election. in the past half hour the snp leader nicola sturgeon has retained her seat in glasgow southside. so far her party has won 17 seats — gaining one — east lothian from labour. the lib dems have three seats. the final results for all 129 seats

at holyrood are expected tomorrow. there have been a handful of results in welsh elections to the senedd. the conservatives have two seats — including gaining the vale of clwyd. labour has one seat. the full results are expected this evening. in other news, thejoint committee on vaccination and immunisation has recommended that people under the age of a0 should be offered an alternative vaccine to the astrazeneca jab after concerns about blood clots. the age threshold is being raised as a precautionary measure. we'll find out in the next half hour how international travel will restart for england. holidays abroad are currently banned, but a traffic light system of rules will take effect on 17th may — with countries classed as green, amber or red. the transport secretary grant shapps is due to give a news conference at five o'clock. stay with us on the bbc news channel for coverage of that story shortly.

police searching for the killer ofjulia james, the police community support officer who was found dead near her home in kent 10 days ago, have released a photograph of a man they'd like to speak to. officers say this man is understood to have been in the aylesham area on 28th april, the day afterjulia james was murdered. police are appealing for the man, or anyone who recognises him, to contact them. assistant chief constable tom richards made this appeal outside folkestone police station. now the weather prospects. hello. warmer weather on the way this weekend, but don't be fooled into thinking that means a lot of sunshine. there will not be. in fact, a very wet start that the weekend, as we'll see in a moment. today, sunny spells, scattered showers, the heaviest downpours in eastern scotland, north—east england. north and east yorkshire come into lincolnshire. thundery, with hail. the driest weather, the highest temperatures in south wales

and southern england. here, it will turn wet as we go into tonight. the rain moving in across southern england, into wales and northern ireland. clear skies ahead of that, in scotland and northern parts of england, another frost setting and before temperatures creep up later in the night. tomorrow, some are really quite heavy rain, difficult driving conditions, spreading north across the uk. clearing from northern ireland in the afternoon, as it turns dry and brighter. drying up a bit in southern scotland, as it will in south—east england, and east anglia. but still raining in northern england and wales come into the afternoon. these are average wind speeds. there will be gusts of around 35 and a0 mph. so a windy day. a warmer day for many, but a cold one in scotland. we are expecting to hear from the

transport secretary grant shapps and we expect more details will be given about international travel and how that will restart. we have to stress what we have been told as england only. that is the weight is at the moment but we will talk a little bit more without transport and business correspondence. we will discuss all of that. right now, holidays abroad are banned, but we are expecting to hear about a traffic light system of rules that are due to take effect on the 17th of may with countries are classed as either green, amber or red. as soon as grant shapps emerges, we will go straight to that briefing at downing street, of course, but let's take a few minutes to go through some of the possibilities and assess what it all might mean. and of course, what are the travel industry itself is wanting. let's have a very quick run through what the three systems it would mean. underthe through what the three systems it would mean. under the plans, through what the three systems it would mean. underthe plans, only you care irish nationals or those with residency rights would be

allowed to return from a country on the red list. that has the most serious list, as you would was like they have guessed. they would have two quarantine at an approved hotel file of a night at your own expense also if you're coming back from a country on the middle is, the embolus, you would have to take a test and self—isolate at your home for ten days. when you get back into the country. of course, perhaps a particular interest today, what we might hear from particular interest today, what we might hearfrom grant shapps is particular interest today, what we might hear from grant shapps is that small number of countries on the green is from a high vaccination rate on a low level infection, that might put you onto the green list. so anyone coming back from the countries on that list will not need to quarantine, as long as you have proof of a negative test. so that is a summary of where we are. as i say, it is only england. we do not yet

have a date set for scotland, wales or northern ireland is apologies, not being rude if you live there or if you're travelling from their but i'm afraid that is just what we are dealing with at the moment. perhaps we'll get a little more clarity on that but we will hear from grant shapps. just taking a look to come i can see they are setting up any downing street briefing room so as soon as we see the transport secretary we will be back there to take that news conference. first, though, i'mjoined bya take that news conference. first, though, i'm joined by a business correspondent cook, katy austin. i mean, goodness, neverwas an announcement mean, goodness, never was an announcement so mean, goodness, neverwas an announcement so keenly anticipated. talk about the holiday injury because it has been so badly affected but it is notjust about holidays. people watching this programme, there will be those who have family abroad and have not seen every month, desperate to visit them so there are potentially a lot riding on this for people. absolutely. as you say, a lot of people are very, very keen for that foreign holiday that has been only a distant dream for many months now, but this also means a lot to those

who want to travel to see family. her they hadn't seen for absolutely ages. it is worth recapping what were expecting. this is a big moment in that holidays are international leisure travel has been banned for quite some time now, but we're not expecting this queen list of countries where you do not have to quarantine on a return it to be especially long. —— it is a greener list. there has been a lot of speculation about the countries are not less, names like israel and portugal have been talked about quite a lot. we will not know until five o'clock, of course, but that list will be quite short. and even the green countries, you will still have to be tested before you take that flight back to the uk and within the first couple of days once you arrive here. another thing to really think about when that list comes out is just because the uk has said, or england is saying, rather, when you come back to england, you do not have to quarantine, there might still be rules that those countries have that british travellers coming, so not all of

those countries might let us in just that. they might not be allowing her to sense what is really important to look at the detail and i don't expect this to be the complete back to normal travellers we do not. that is a really important _ to normal travellers we do not. that is a really important point because i think people following this are thinking, can i get on a website, book a flight to whatever. actually, they should be checking out because that country might have stringent rules about you can come in, but you have to quarantine or whatever. it is not going to be, as you suggest, some immediate free for all. we do not know that it is.— not know that it is. there is obvious they _ not know that it is. there is obvious they demand. - not know that it is. there is obvious they demand. we l not know that it is. there is - obvious they demand. we know not know that it is. there is _ obvious they demand. we know people have been searching for holidays and another thing we have been talking about is the cost of tests. that you might have to take as well. we know the uk's largest tour operator tui said it will subsidise tests costs for its customers, test between 20

and 90 p. there is any greenness today, some of those that really rely on british tourists will be very, very glad to see people back —— there was only greenness today. and hotels and restaurants will not be able to wait for that you spend your time but we will have to wait until 5pm to find out exactly which countries are on those lists. yes. countries are on those lists. yes, all ri . ht, countries are on those lists. yes, all right. katy — countries are on those lists. yes, all right, katy we'll— countries are on those lists. yes, all right, katy we'll talk - countries are on those lists. yes, all right, katy we'll talk to - countries are on those lists. yes, all right, katy we'll talk to any i all right, katy we'll talk to any little bell. let's try to get the thoughts on the travel industry and what they are thinking. we are speaking to kirsten hughes, managing director at an independent travel company with about 1900 franchisees across the uk. you're smelling at the moment, are you hopeful that you will hear something that is going to help you and everybody you

represent? i help you and everybody you represent?— help you and everybody you reresent? ., ., , ., , represent? i am hoping for it, but my exnectations _ represent? i am hoping for it, but my expectations are _ represent? i am hoping for it, but my expectations are quite - represent? i am hoping for it, but my expectations are quite low. i l my expectations are quite low. i think we have got to be realistic. there will be very few countries on any green today. i think the speculation of a four or five is probably correct, the best that we can probably hope for today. but having said that, there will be more countries going on the mls and of course, people can also travel to the ever countries are —— onto the amber list. but i think one of katy�*s points was that important, well there's not going to suddenly open up when these lesser owners, some countries will not accept customers travelling yet. that some countries will not accept customers travelling yet. that is an interestin: customers travelling yet. that is an interesting point. _ customers travelling yet. that is an interesting point. i— customers travelling yet. that is an interesting point. i suppose - customers travelling yet. that is an interesting point. i suppose it- customers travelling yet. that is an interesting point. i suppose it is. interesting point. i suppose it is something that your members would advise people to really be careful about before theyjump onto booking things online because they're desperate because we have heard

about prices going up already. yes. about prices going up already. yes, and rices about prices going up already. yes, and prices will _ about prices going up already. yes, and prices will go _ about prices going up already. yes, and prices will go up, _ about prices going up already. yes and prices will go up, of course was at the law of economics tells us with demand, as soon as we open, we know countries will —— me know prices will go up. but yes, i think the time of the trusted travel professional is now. because the complexity are going to change regularly, the traffic lights are probably going to change regularly, the testing needs are going to change. quarantine, potentially, and some of the countries you're travelling to may be needed. certainly some pcr testing going into some of the countries are going to be needed and then the vaccination rules will change with each country so actually, getting that advice is really, really important because people travelling without it could end up refused entry into countries or, worse still, not been able to board an aircraft that is terrible because you will lose your money. yes. and it could be — you will lose your money. yes. and it could be my— you will lose your money. yes. and it could be my let's _ you will lose your money. yes. and it could be my let's talk _ you will lose your money. yes. and it could be my let's talk about - you will lose your money. yes. and it could be my let's talk about howl it could be my let's talk about how quickly things can change. could someone booking a holiday with the best will in the well, follow other

else can i get to said country and in some rules change while they are actually there? and that could have cost implications... actually there? and that could have cost implications. . ._ cost implications... absolutely. it could happen _ cost implications... absolutely. it could happen and _ cost implications... absolutely. it could happen and let's _ cost implications... absolutely. it could happen and let's face - cost implications... absolutely. it could happen and let's face on, i cost implications... absolutely. it i could happen and let's face on, that is what happened elsewhere last year. people were in resorts when countries were changing and they were changing last year at a very, very short notice and people had to get home quickly when it went to red last year. so it can happen and there is nothing worse than being away overseas, holiday only business trip, and something changing and not knowing where to turn. this —— holiday or a business trip. health again, our kid travel cancers have supported customers in resorts. —— travel counsellors. the testing changes, come into requirement, that is what we do, so it is quite complex. it will be complex for someone to come, i believe. it is great news for us in terms of the

world is opening and beginning to open and that is great news for people. i appreciate not everybody wants to travel this year, but there are a lot of people who want to do. we have been listening to the weather if you minutes ago and why would you not? that weather if you minutes ago and why would you not?— would you not? that is so interesting. _ would you not? that is so interesting. are _ would you not? that is so interesting. are you - would you not? that is so interesting. are you have| would you not? that is so _ interesting. are you have pre-empted interesting. are you have pre—empted whatever is going to ask you finally because i feel as if, typical genus, but highlighting all the bad things and i do not want to only make it bad news, but there are risks —— typicaljournalist. i am curious to how much demand are they are to go abroad. as alive, brother, silbert staycation is from what your members are telling you? are do you think there are a lot of people are desperate to go abroad—— is it all about staycationspeople already booked staycations.— about staycationspeople already booked staycations. cruise lines are now sailin: booked staycations. cruise lines are now sailing around _ booked staycations. cruise lines are now sailing around the _ booked staycations. cruise lines are now sailing around the uk - booked staycations. cruise lines are now sailing around the uk as - booked staycations. cruise lines are now sailing around the uk as well. | booked staycations. cruise lines are| now sailing around the uk as well. a lot of companies have had to pivot on what they do and what they sell. but there is a lot of pent—up

demand. it has been a long time for some people to travel. not everyone wants to travel last minute so we had a lot of bookings for next year with people have said, forget this year, i want to book and not when your budget so they had booked for next year but there is an incredible amount of pent—up demand and we are seeing an increase enquiry so it will be interesting. we see with media and announcements an influx of calls depending on what happens today so we are incredibly excited today so we are incredibly excited to see what happens, albeit, i do believe it will only be a few countries today. but any next announcement will be in a few weeks so it is a great start, i'm hoping for a great start. mil so it is a great start, i'm hoping for a great start.— for a great start. all right, kirsten. — for a great start. all right, kirsten, lovely _ for a great start. all right, kirsten, lovely to - for a great start. all right, kirsten, lovely to talk - for a great start. all right, kirsten, lovely to talk to l for a great start. all right, i kirsten, lovely to talk to your we will see what emerges at 5pm. thank you very much. thank you from travel counsellors at there. 0ne slice of the travel industry buzz and the smell of her last answer —— smile

sure that i was perhaps naive not to think there was demand. let's see what grant shapps has to set now one of the issues for the reason for caution in using travel restrictions is the emergence of new variants of coronavirus. —— in easing. a strainerfirst coronavirus. —— in easing. a strainer first detected in coronavirus. —— in easing. a strainerfirst detected in india has today been classified as a bit of concern by public health england buzz up figures are showcases of the variant had increased to 520 from a 202 over the last week. and almost half of those cases are related to travel or contact where the traveller. public health england says that are currently insufficient evidence —— that is currently insufficient evidence to say any brilliance recently detected in india because a more severe disease —— any of any variance recently detected in india. 0r —— any of any variance recently detected in india. or that they make vaccines available any less effective. india itself has witnessed another record a rise in infections, more than a1a,000 new

covid cases in less than 2a hours. the indian health ministry says the total number of coronavirus infections has surged past 21 million as at the country grapples with any second wave. 0verall, more than 230,000 people have lost their lives are to the virus. government advisers i make many people under the age of a0 should be offered an alternative to the oxford—astrazeneca vaccine whenever possible. that was originally set at 30 and now they have said it should go 30 and now they have said it should 9° up 30 and now they have said it should go up to a0. it follows concerns about a slightly higher risk among younger people i'll be very rare blood clot linked to the jab. and that decision was announced at a news conference at just that decision was announced at a news conference atjust a little earlier on today. we had at that news conference from drjoan raine, chief executive of the medicines and

health care and she outlined how small that risk was of blood clotting. small that risk was of blood clottinu. , ., j~ ., a clotting. up to the 28th of april there have _ clotting. up to the 28th of april there have been _ clotting. up to the 28th of april there have been 242 _ clotting. up to the 28th of april there have been 242 cases i clotting. up to the 28th of april there have been 242 cases of. clotting. up to the 28th of april- there have been 242 cases of these there have been 2a2 cases of these specific kinds of blood clots with a low platelet counts. with over 28 million doses administered by that date, that is an incidence of 10.5 per million. in terms of second doses, we know that there have been six reports under evaluation and with around 6,000,002nd dose is given, at that date, that is an incidence of one in a million. around 6 million of the second it was given. from the support of the public and health care professionals, our safety monitoring systems are working and working effectively. these extremely rare side effects have been identified and analysed by the best of scientific minds. and they have

enabled us to provide a scientifically based up—to—date information and advice to enable judgments on the use of the covid covid—19 oxford—astrazeneca vaccine dose up based on those under age 30 we now advise those under a0, who do not have a health condition that put them at rest, should be preferentially offered an alternative to the astrazeneca vaccine. �* ., , , , alternative to the astrazeneca vaccine. �* ., ,, , , ., vaccine. awareness is possible and only where — vaccine. awareness is possible and only where substantial _ vaccine. awareness is possible and only where substantial delay i vaccine. awareness is possible and only where substantial delay in i only where substantial delay in access— only where substantial delay in access to — only where substantial delay in access to vaccination might arise. the astrazeneca vaccine is a very helpful— the astrazeneca vaccine is a very helpful in — the astrazeneca vaccine is a very helpful in that it requires a less stringent — helpful in that it requires a less stringent transport and storage conditions compared to some other vaccines _ conditions compared to some other vaccines. that means in certain

settings, — vaccines. that means in certain settings, the astrazeneca vaccine may he _ settings, the astrazeneca vaccine may be the only vaccine that is practical— may be the only vaccine that is practical to offer and in those circumstances, the astrazeneca vaccine — circumstances, the astrazeneca vaccine should, indeed, be the preferred — vaccine should, indeed, be the preferred vaccine. importantly, i want— preferred vaccine. importantly, i want to— preferred vaccine. importantly, i want to say that this updated advice is specific— want to say that this updated advice is specific to the current uk context _ is specific to the current uk context. it is conditional on at the following — context. it is conditional on at the following factors are remaining favourable — that is to say, there continues— favourable — that is to say, there continues to _ favourable — that is to say, there continues to be good control of covid-19 — continues to be good control of covid—19 infection in the uk, there is a good _ covid—19 infection in the uk, there is a good availability of alternatives to the astrazeneca vaccine, — alternatives to the astrazeneca vaccine, and there is a strong vaccine — vaccine, and there is a strong vaccine roll—out. in other words, we maintain _ vaccine roll—out. in other words, we maintain at — vaccine roll—out. in other words, we maintain at the speed of vaccine deployment and a high level of vaccine — deployment and a high level of vaccine uptake. the size of any future — vaccine uptake. the size of any future wave of covid—19 is a greatly influenced — future wave of covid—19 is a greatly influenced by how well the vaccine programme is going. reductions in any vaccine — programme is going. reductions in any vaccine uptake or speed of deployment in the coming weeks will increase _ deployment in the coming weeks will increase the size of any future

wave — increase the size of any future wave and _ increase the size of any future wave. and in that scenario, any vaccine — wave. and in that scenario, any vaccine offered early is preferred to a vaccine offered too late. all ofthe to a vaccine offered too late. fill of the opinion polls i read, they very clearly show the british public has a very, very high confidence in the vaccine programme in the uk. i can already see what it is doing in terms of changing our future and the data gets better and stronger in terms of the layers of protection, notjust terms of the layers of protection, not just the aversion terms of the layers of protection, notjust the aversion of deaths, serious illnesses and infections, but now the prevention of transmission on top. for young adults, in particular, we know they have higher mixing patterns. they are young and sociable, basically, and they have a higher propensity for transmission. and they have a higher propensity fortransmission. so and they have a higher propensity for transmission. so continuation of the vaccine programme and

maintaining confidence through the measures thatjcvi have announced todayis measures thatjcvi have announced today is a really important, not only in terms of the potential impact of continuing vaccination on keeping any third wave or a resurgence smaller than it would otherwise have been, but basically, because although we are in a very good epidemiological situation now, compared with a couple of months ago, even, we do not retain control of this disease unless we continue the roll—out of the vaccination programme. 50 the roll-out of the vaccination programme-— the roll-out of the vaccination rouramme. ., ., ., ., programme. so professorjonathan van tam, of programme. so professorjonathan van tam. of course- — programme. so professorjonathan van tam, of course. and _ programme. so professorjonathan van tam, of course. and here _ programme. so professorjonathan van tam, of course. and here is, _ programme. so professorjonathan van tam, of course. and here is, also, i tam, of course. and here is, also, of course, our health editor hugh pym. good to see you. now the guidance around the people under the age of a0 and the vaccine, we have to stress that blood clots are very rare and they are stressing this is

a really precautionary approach. that is right, jane. are you heard health and medical leaders they're emphasising again and again that the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks. and that the vaccine programme has saved lives and that it will continue and people should have confidence in it. basically, we will have the mhra, the medical regulator, saying they do not think the overall risk has changed of getting blood clots, although they have got a little more understanding now of the fact that younger age groups are very slightly more at risk. this than other age groups. and you also have thejcvi, the expert advise anybody who says, in the light of the medical safety advice, how do you carry on with the role that? essentially, it has a balance of risks and visibility of other vaccines because there is enough pfizer and moderna, they can switch the under a0s to those as they have already done for the under

30s. and because the virus is not spending nearly as rapidly as it was, they risk there has fallen. so it is trying to balance all of those things and say, the risk remains extremely low. with astrazeneca, but basically, these other vaccines will be on offer. it has a complex picture and it may be a bit difficult for everyone to grasp, but it is just balancing all of those different factors, which is what they have come up with today. yes. a very interesting _ they have come up with today. yes. a very interesting to _ they have come up with today. yes. a very interesting to listen _ they have come up with today. yes. a very interesting to listen to. - they have come up with today. yes. a very interesting to listen to. and i very interesting to listen to. and here we are, momentarily, we think we will have on the transport secretary and we are talking about people going abroad more, perhaps people going abroad more, perhaps people going abroad more, perhaps people going on holiday, went to visit loved ones. striking that we have had reference today about an indian variant of the virus which is of concern. indian variant of the virus which is of concern-— of concern. yes, public health encland of concern. yes, public health england have _ of concern. yes, public health england have been _ of concern. yes, public health england have been monitoring of concern. yes, public health i england have been monitoring this indian variantand england have been monitoring this indian variant and that are three strains of it in the uk. it has spread to a few hundred cases now, more than 500. they have been very

quick to say up until now that there is no necessary cause for alarm but they have elevated its status to a variant of concern. it has to be said that a lot of variants, including the south african variant, which is in the uk, is also a variant of concern, as is the original one, discovered in kent towards the end of last year. so they are putting it on to more of an alert status and they will be doing more testing, but they are very quick to say that there is no evidence that it transmits a more rapidly than the kent obedient or that the vaccines are less effective against it, but one to watch on that. . ~ against it, but one to watch on that. ., ~ , ., , ., ., that. here, thank you straight to downin: that. here, thank you straight to downing street. _ that. here, thank you straight to downing street. it _ that. here, thank you straight to downing street. it is _ that. here, thank you straight to downing street. it is the - that. here, thank you straight to i downing street. it is the transport secretary. i'm pleased to be joint here today by dr_ i'm pleased to be joint here today by drjenny harries and paul lincotn, _ by drjenny harries and paul lincoln, the director—general of border— lincoln, the director—general of border force. we have made enormous progress _ border force. we have made enormous progress this _ border force. we have made enormous progress this year tackling the pandemic across britain. we are not

at the _ pandemic across britain. we are not at the end _ pandemic across britain. we are not at the end of— pandemic across britain. we are not at the end of it,